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Posted on 04/08/2024 1:56:04 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
The Army intends to introduce in 2023 a rifle and light machine gun pairing to substitute the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon for its close combat unit.
The Marine Corps and Special Operations Command are also involved in the extensive testing and experimentation phase and will be able to choose the new-caliber firearms.
The new 6.8mm round, specially designed by the Army, is the most significant change for shooters. In the Next Generation Squad Weapon program, competitors were tasked with building the weapon to accommodate this round. Sig Sauer secured the $4.7 billion weapon contract last year, while Vortex Optics and Sheltered Wings jointly won the $2.7 billion NGSW-Fire Control contract.
In recent years, the U.S. Army’s fiscal projections have highlighted significant investments in the modernization of the M4 carbine. The modernization program, which began back in 2014, is a multifaceted initiative aimed at enhancing the reliability, durability, ergonomics, and zero retention of the rifle. It encompasses a range of improvements, including the integration of combat optics and a Close Quarters Battle Kit, as detailed in the Army’s budget justification documents.
A significant part of this program is the conversion of standard M4 carbines into the M4A1 configuration. This upgrade not only provides soldiers with full auto capability but also outfits the carbine with a heavier and more accurate barrel. As of the time of writing, more than 117,000 M4A1 upgrades have been completed, with plans to transform over 480,000 M4 rifles in total.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Hopefully the 9mm pistol will also get an upgrade.
After over five decades of faithful service, the M16 series, an icon of American military might and a direct descendant of the AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner will be succeeded by Sig Sauer's advanced XM7 rifle.
The M16, first introduced in 1964, has been the most-produced 5.56x45mm weapon, marking a significant chapter in the annals of U.S. military history.
The latest variant, the M16A4, known for its three-round burst feature, will soon yield to the cutting-edge design of the XM7, a testament to the relentless pursuit of small arms excellence.
Firing the Army’s New Rifle And Machine Gun Is A Weighty Experience - 09/22/2023, Forbes
It’s an improvement but not a huge one.
They should have went with the NATO .308 or 7.65 x 51 round.
The ammo is heavy, very expensive and difficult to make.
With the military getting rid of strong male warriors, in favor of DEI personel, that won't be able to shoot or carry this rifle, it appears to be an expensive boondoggle.
There are piston ARs; Adams Arms, POF and they come in any caliber.
Adams Arms sells a kit for $200 that can switch any DI AR to piston.
Heck, they can switch the caliber, on existing rifles AND switch to a piston for a fraction of the cost of these Sigs.
They went to the new Sig M7, 9mm last year.
The feather-round M1A1 is just the next election/swindle away...
The brutal killing during battle must end!
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The original design by Eugene Stoner specified a barrel with a 1 in 14” rifling twist. This under-stabilized the 55 grain bullet so that it tumbled upon striking a human target which produced devastating wounds. The Army brass was against adoption of any rifle that had been developed outside their chain of command and did everything they could to screw with the AR. To that end they sent samples to the Cold Weather Test Center at Ft. Wainwright, AK. The armorers there promptly stripped the rifles down to evaluate them. The factory used tapered pins to secure the front sight assembly. Tapered pins are not reusable once removed and the armorers did not have any replacements. They used standard roll pins during re-assembly so guess what? The front sights on the sample rifles were loose. During cold weather testing the accuracy of these rifles did not meet specifications. The Army brass decided that this was due to the slow twist rate when the real problem was improper re-assembly resulting in loose sight assemblies. So they demanded that the barrel twist rate be changed to 1 in 12 inches which stabilized the bullet to the point that it did not tumble so easily on impact which reduced its lethality. Now the bullet twist rate is 1 in 7 inches so the bullets are over-stablized. They managed to do this before the adoption of the DEI poison that now infests the US Government so excuse me if I am not impressed by their new plans. If you watch the imbedded video by Garand Thumb he has so much garbage hanging on that M4 that it must weigh 10 lbs. or more.
I used to shoot competitive matches with rack grade M16A2 rifles when I was on my State National Guard Rifle Team.
Green tip ammo sucks. Every couple hundred rounds there’s a complete flyer. Sight picture good, break good, finish good, no hit on target.
I had a complete miss on a 10 ring target that cost me the Chief’s 50 badge at the Wilson match in Arkansas. I missed Chief’s 50 by 2 points and that shot broke as a called 10 by me. I’d never buy green tip.
My go to handload now is 75gr Hornady HPBT match with a Winchester case, Varget, and a CCI bench rest primer.
6.8mm works out to .268 caliber (.270).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.8mm_Remington_SPC
Based on the .30 Remington cartridge,[7] it is midway between the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO in bore diameter. It uses the same diameter bullet (usually not the same mass) as the .270 Winchester hunting cartridge.
I love the .308, but my AR10 has a 20 round vs. 30 rd mag for my AR15s and I’m pretty sure they weigh the same.
Sometimes quantity has a quality all its own.
The new SPC spec that goes in the Sig configuration is a much higher 80,000 PSI chamber pressure, so expect yet another flavor of SPC bolt/barrel that can handle the higher pressure.
I have some 6.5 Grendel (same goofy issue with two different barrel/bolt specs). The Wolf 100 gr 6.5 Grendel works Ok. Steel case. I've had one split case thus far. A real pain to extract from the chamber of my CZ bolt action rifle.
I’m not sure if this is correct but I remember reading years ago that the reason the 5.56 behaved so badly in the Vietnan era M16 was that the propellant was changed and the propellant that eventually was used as a substitute fouled the weapons up in short order.
Reading about the 6mm ARC made it sound like a good choice, can use the 5.56mm size receivers. Better ballistics, normal chamber pressures, etc.
The 7.62 just has too much of a weight penalty. Running with five 20 round magazines would beat you to death slapping around. Full auto on anything of reasonable weight is almost not controllable.
I love my AR10 build, but would not want to carry it around for long.
Guns are dangerous.
A phrase like the above seems to me to be written by someone who has never fired a rifle. Under the new model where every decision has to be subservient to the DIE agenda, I don't have much hope for the upgrade. I like the comment about weight. I remember we had to do away with the "firman's carry" to enable women to become fire fighters.
This is absolutely correct.
Ah yes, the mouse trap.
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